Australia

As a developed country, the ILO does not provide direct technical assistance in Australia. However, the ILO’s linkage with Australia on the issue of disability is strong. Australian approaches, such as the Bridging Pathways initiative to integrate the Training and Further Education systems was highlighted as part of the Expert Group Meeting on Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Vocational Training. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has assisted the ILO in finding technical expertise when needed. For example, a representative of the Liquor Hospitality & Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) provided technical inputs into the meeting on Decent Work and People with Disabilities sponsored by the All China Federation of Trade Unions in 2005. The LHMU has experience organizing workers with disabilities in sheltered workshops and has helped them get higher wages, among its other activities to promote decent work for disabled persons.

Australia was one of the countries in the ILO’s 14-country research project and it participated in the ILO/Japan Technical Consultation on Vocational Training and Employment of People with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, 14-15 January 2003, Bangkok. LINK Representatives of employers’, trade unions’ and disabled persons’ organizations attended the meeting. As a result, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was so impressed with some of the employer organization initiatives in developing countries that it launched a major policy statement on disability that was approved and disseminated in November 2003.

As part of its regional research project, the ILO identified several examples of good practices in Australia. Moving Forward: Toward Decent Work for People with Disabilities---Examples of Good Practices from Asia and the Pacific Region includes two of these examples. One addresses Australia’s efforts to increase participation of people with disabilities in its vocational training programmes---the Bridging Pathways initiative, and the other a computer training programme.

For more information about employment and training in Australia, consult the following:

• Training and Employment of People with Disabilities: Australia 2002. Part of the AbilityAsia Country Study Series, 2003. (pdf)

• Adelaide Institute of Technical and Further Education
  Integrating Deaf Students---Mainstream Vocational Training and Education Programmes Adjust to Specific Needs in Australia (pdf)

• Computer Training for the Recently Injured in Australia (pdf)

For more information about disability related laws and policies and the country consult our National Laws and Information pages.

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